If you believe you or a loved one may be suffering from an addiction to Adderall or other amphetamines, our assessment may be a beneficial tool. Although the assessment can not be used as a definitive diagnosis, it can help to determine how many symptoms associated with addiction a person may be facing.
We base our assessment questions on the criteria laid out by the fifth edition of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Regardless to the results of the assessment, it is important to note that an addiction disorder must be diagnosed by a trained medical professional.
Despite its potential benefits, Adderall addiction can cause several harmful effects. Adderall has often been compared to the street drug “meth” in how it affects a person’s brain, although it does not have the same ability to cause psychosis. Adderall can cause a variety of negative side effects, such as headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, and sleep problems.
People who abuse Adderall without suffering from ADHD or narcolepsy open themselves up to even more serious effects. Adderall addiction and abuse can cause fever, weak or numb limbs, hallucinations, or seizures. If someone suffering from mental illness abuses the drug they could see a serious worsening in their mental condition, such as an increase of symptoms associated with depression or anxiety.
Adderall addiction leads to a mental and physical dependency on the drug. Those suffering from an addiction would need more and more of the drug each time to feel its effects and would lose the ability or have great difficulty concentrating on anything without Adderall. People who abuse Adderall often do not feel the need to eat when on the drug and can experience dangerous amounts of weight loss.
Suddenly stopping Adderall, especially for those who abuse it, can cause withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can include depression, irritability, insomnia, fatigue, and panic attacks. Even for those taking prescribed doses of Adderall, withdrawal can be incredibly painful and you should always seek the help of a medical professional before attempting to do so.
The first step to any addiction treatment should be to stop use. Due to the serious withdrawal effects that can occur when someone suddenly stops taking Adderall, medical professionals should be contacted for those entering recovery. It is important to either slowly taper off usage in order to lessen symptoms associated with withdrawal or potentially enter a treatment facility to have the support necessary to deal with those symptoms.
It is important to not only treat the addiction but also look at the underlying mental health issues at the root of our addictions. Dual-diagnosis treatment is a program that simultaneously works towards solving your mental health issues that cause addiction while also helping you through addiction recovery.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy, or CBT, can also be helpful to those suffering from addiction. CBT works to challenge one’s behaviors and to enforce healthier outcomes from certain situations that may have previously been triggering moments for their addiction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has proven to be especially helpful to those who may not have experienced success in other forms of treatment or therapy. At Create Recovery Los Angeles we are here to help you through your recovery. Please call us at (855)-518-0222 to learn more.
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